There are no real M cars anymore and there hasn't been one since 1999. THERE I SAID IT.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmarei

the last M car was the M3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brucewonder

if the M isnt on a 3 series, then its not a true M car imo

And this on a BMW forum. There will always be these sorts of comments about every brand. This isn't a real M, that's not a real AMG, those aren't real Porsches, it goes on and on.

What you have to decide is if you're a car enthusiast or a badge enthusiast. If you're a car enthusiast, nothing's changed - the car is the car, regardless of what badges it has or what other cars the badge is affixed to. My M Coupe has driven the same since the X6M debuted, no air-cooled 911s were harmed by the creation of the Cayenne.

However, if a big part of the ownership experience was polishing the M badges on your car and now they're everywhere, I can see why someone like that would be peeved, but I wouldn't expect them to advertise it.

M is just the performance branch of BMW. If they can make an X6 go fast and handle great, then that makes the M name even better!

For an engineer to take an X5 or X6, and make it faster than 99.5% of the cars on the road today, and I mean CARS, not just SUV's, then that is amazing. I bet you an X6M could give a Vette a run for its money.

i believe the only bespoke part on the 1m is is the "powered by BMW M" sticker on the engine lid
the 1m was an excercise in seeing how much people would pay for a 1m
which is why production was limited, to generate hype for the next 1M based on the new chassis.
why else would a car manufacturer release a model when the new shape of that same model was already out?
a 1 year production run?
yeah right!

i believe the only bespoke part on the 1m is is the "powered by BMW M" sticker on the engine lid
the 1m was an excercise in seeing how much people would pay for a 1m
which is why production was limited, to generate hype for the next 1M based on the new chassis.
why else would a car manufacturer release a model when the new shape of that same model was already out?
a 1 year production run?
yeah right!

Porsche does it all the time. The 997 911 Turbos and GT3's are still being produced with the 991 for sale on the lots.

But I don't see how the 1M isn't an M car? I can understand the argument for the X6M, etc., but the 1M is:

fast, handles around a track with some of the best, has unique M styling, shares many parts with the M3, is light (relative to today's cars), is limited...

So your thought is to be an M car, it can't share an engine with any of the other regular BMW's?

I think that's a pretty valid point.

pretty much yes
all M engines were based on regular BMW engines
but were then enhanced, fine tuned, strengthened etc
this was was basically the same engine as the one in the 335is, but with a sticker on top
there is a reason why the car took only 6 months to develop
as you said it, parts bin car

i believe the only bespoke part on the 1m is is the "powered by BMW M" sticker on the engine lid
the 1m was an excercise in seeing how much people would pay for a 1m
which is why production was limited, to generate hype for the next 1M based on the new chassis.
why else would a car manufacturer release a model when the new shape of that same model was already out?
a 1 year production run?
yeah right!

You forgot:

Body panels
All suspension parts, inc. LSD

If BMW M call it and M, it's an M. You have no say in the matter. BMW M themselves stated they subscribe to no dogma, yet the fanboi clan do till their dying breath, and that's quite sad.

the last M car was the M3
when M used to stand for Motorsport
the rest are the new M
where M stands for marketing/money
at least that's what my personal opinion is

I would still include the E28 in those numbers though. It was still homologated and toured.

But it is true that, outside of the M3's the M cars arent M cars in the fact that they were not developed for Motorsport (hence the M) homologation. I do think the 1M could be though, its a good chassis for it.

M is just the performance branch of BMW. If they can make an X6 go fast and handle great, then that makes the M name even better!

For an engineer to take an X5 or X6, and make it faster than 99.5% of the cars on the road today, and I mean CARS, not just SUV's, then that is amazing. I bet you an X6M could give a Vette a run for its money.

I like the way you think...logical.

...and just a quick note, my X5M (while tuned) smoked a fuggin vette a few weeks back. God I hate those things!

If you have complaints...maybe time to find another brand. It's pretty simple, why would you waste your money to just complain about it? Every M car out there is special in it's own way.

If you feel sad about one VW guy saying your car is not a real "M" (even BMW badged it that way), then just remember, at least you are better off than the guy who needs to listen to uncountable people saying he is not a real "Tour" winner. Seven times over...

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Little known facts about BMW: 1) The N54 is still in production and used in the current Z4 35i and 35is. 2) In a Z4 you can get sport+ steering combined with normal suspension etc by selecting DSC=off. (Update: DSC=off also offers sports steering in the M135i) 3) All Z4s with 19" wheels are still only offered with the worst performing OEM tires ever sold with a DCT equipped BMW (Potenza RE 050 RFT).

The x5m cut the corner and off-roaded for about 3 seconds which got it ahead of the m3...uncool

Can't believe people are comparing performance based on a commercial. I've been on at Laguna seca 2x when there was an x5m at the track. Lets just say I was passing him all day and this was when I was pretty new at it all.